Montpellier : how to go to the beach without car ?

Posted 9 months ago

Without a car, it can seem difficult to get to the beach from Montpellier. But don’t worry ! Here are some tips to help you get there in no time !

Which beach to choose ?

- If you want to go to a beach close to a tourist area with shops and restaurants, Palavas (10km) or Carnon (12km) are perfect for you.
- If you want to go to a less touristy place with no houses nearby, check out the Plage du Petit Travers, Plage du Grand Travers (between Carnon and La Grande Motte), Villeneuve-les-Magielones, or Les Aresquiers.

How to get there ?

No car ? No problem ! There are plenty of possibilities to get to the beach from Montpellier.

1.Pilou beach
•   Take the train from Montpellier to Villeneuve-les-Maguelones (5 minutes) and then hop on your bike for 3 kilometres to get to beautiful Pilou beach.

•   Take bus number 32 from Garcia Lorca (tram line 4) to Pilou station in Villeneuve-les-Maguelones. There, the TAM provides 200 bikes for free to get to Pilou beach (only on weekends in June and everyday in July and August). All you have to do is present your validated transport ticket and hand over your ID as a deposit. Use the bike for the day and bring it back to the Vélomagg’ plage reception until 7pm.

2. Palavas
•   Hop on your bike and follow the cycle track starting at Port Marianne along the Lez. The ride takes around 45 minutes to an hour.
•   Get on bus number 631 at Garcia Lorca (tram line 4). The bus will take you directly to Palavas (Salles bleues) for only 1,60€.

3. Carnon
•   Hop on your bike and follow the cycle track along the Avenue Raymond Dugrand and tram line 3.
The ride takes around 45 minutes to an hour.
•   Get on bus number 606 at Place de France (tram line 1). The bus will take you to Carnon for only 2€.

4.   Petit Travers and Grand Travers
•   Get on bus number 606 at Place de France (tram line 1). The bus will take you to Petit Travers and Grand Travers for only 2€.
Tip: At Pérols Etang de l’Or (tram line 3), different busses (Navette de plage) are waiting for you to take you to different beaches from 10am to 9pm for less than 2 !

Useful information

It is possible to take your bike on the tram, except during rush hours (7-9 am and 5-7 pm). On weekends, the tram may be a little too full for you to bring your bike. Voilà! We hope you feel less confused now and we wish you an amazing time at the beach! Also, never forget to put on sunscreen !